Types of Apples and the Characteristics of Each Variety: AGuide to Selection, Planting, and Care

Quick tip: For choosing a cultivar, firstChilling hours و market target Check it out.

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Iranian cultivars

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Foreign cultivars

Golden Delicious

Characteristics: Golden‑yellow skin; sweet‑tart flavor; semi‑firm texture

Harvest time: Mid to late autumn

Uses: Fresh consumption, cooking, and industrial processing

Cultivation in Iran: Requires a defined chilling period; moderate susceptibility to

spotting diseases; suitable for commercial orchards with fungicide management

Red Delicious

Characteristics: Glossy red skin; elongated shape; mild to sweet flavor

Harvest time: Autumn

Uses: Fresh consumption and luxury packaging

Cultivation in Iran: For appearance‑driven markets, harvest without bruising; controlling surface pests and sunburn is

important

Granny Smith

Characteristics: Green skin; sharp, tart flavor; firm and crisp texture

Harvest time: Late summer to autumn

Uses: Cooking, salads, and fresh consumption

Cultivation in Iran: A late‑ripening cultivar with a chilling requirement; tested and successful in some

regions of Iran, but needs an adequately long cool period

Champion

Characteristics: Red‑skinned fruit; pleasant and balanced flavor; sometimes recognized as a

market‑friendly cultivar

Harvest time: Late summer to autumn

Uses: Fresh consumption

Cultivation in Iran: Suitable for temperate to semi‑cold regions; proper rootstock selection and pruning management are

important

Gala

Characteristics: Yellow to orange skin with red streaks; sweet and juicy flavor; soft to semi‑firm texture

Harvest time: Late summer

Uses: Fresh consumption and large markets

Cultivation in Iran: A high‑yielding cultivar; suitable for high‑density orchards; requires regular fertilization and controlled

irrigation to maintain fruit quality

Bramley

Characteristics: A well‑known English cultivar primarily used for cooking; large fruit with a tart flavor

and a texture suitable for cooking

Harvest time: Autumn

Uses: Cooking and food processing

Cultivation in Iran: Less common, but plantable in specialized orchards for cooking and industrial use; requires sufficient

chilling and careful management to prevent rot

Fuji

Characteristics: Large fruit; very sweet flavor; firm texture; long shelf life

Harvest time: Late autumn (late‑ripening)

Uses: Fresh consumption and export

Cultivation in Iran: Successful in regions with sufficient winter chilling; ideal for commercial orchards focused on storage and

export; post‑harvest management is essential

Alice

Characteristics: A cultivar with commercial traits depending on the sub‑variety; usually pleasant flavor, medium size, and

suitable for the fresh market

Harvest time: Variable (summer to autumn)

Uses: Fresh consumption

Cultivation in Iran: Depending on the sub‑clone, it has been trialed in some orchards; it is recommended to test in small plots

before large‑scale expansion

To register your product, get in touch with our experts.

The Sarvban support team is ready to register your product, provide packaging consultation, and offer export guidance. Send your product details and our colleagues will contact you.

Product registration Contact for consultation.

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:General cultivation notes in Iran

Matching cultivar to climate: Before selecting a cultivar, assess the region’s chilling hours and choose cultivars that are compatible with them

Rootstock Selection: In modern production, use specific rootstocks (such as M9 for high‑density orchards and MMxxxx for specific regions) to facilitate easier size control and yield management

Irrigation and Nutrition: Drip irrigation is recommended to maintain consistent root moisture and improve fruit quality; the fertilization schedule should be based on soil analysis

Planting distances: High‑density orchards (tight rows, 2–3 m) suit Gala and Fuji; traditional spacings (6–9 m) are better for older cultivars and seedling rootstocks

Pest and disease management: Implement an IPM program; conduct regular monitoring during the growing season; apply targeted sprays for leaf spots, codling moth, and rots

Harvest and post‑harvest: For export cultivars (Fuji, Golden), rapid cooling and cold‑storage are required; careful hand‑picking is essential to preserve the appearance of packaging‑friendly cultivars (Red Delicious)

:Best regions for apple cultivation

Apple performs well in temperate to cold regions with cool summers and cold winters. In Iran, provinces such as East Azerbaijan (Marand, Sabzeqaba),

West Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Hamadan, Zanjan, and certain high‑altitude areas of Khorasan and Kermanshah are among the best‑known regions. Deep, well‑drained soils with a pH

close to neutral, along with adequate water availability, form the foundation for a successful apple orchard

:General characteristics of apples suitable for export

Export apples must be prepared in terms of quality, packaging, and logistics so that by the time they reach the destination market, their appearance, flavor, and marketability are preserved

:Fruit quality and characteristics

Uniform and glossy color; free from physical blemishes or sunburn

Proper firmness (not soft) to prevent mechanical damage and extend shelf life

Uniform size and weight within the package (graded by size)

Sugar/acidity ratio tailored to the taste preferences of the destination market

Internal moisture content and incidence of pests and diseases at zero or below the permissible threshold

Healthy, intact skin with no wounds or cracks (minor blemishes may be acceptable for domestic markets, but not for export)

Appearance and packaging

Protective packaging: cardboard boxes with perforations or layers of aqua foam/cardboard dividers

Each packaging unit labeled with cultivar name, origin, harvest date, size grade, and number

Ventilation and humidity inside the package adjusted to prevent condensation and rot

Removal or covering of excess stems/leaves that can trap moisture

Storage and cold‑storage conditions

Storage temperature appropriate for the cultivar (typically between 0 to 4 °C for most cultivars) and a relative humidity of 90–95% to prevent shriveling

Ethylene management: segregation of ethylene‑sensitive cultivars and use of ethylene absorbers or airflow regulation

Rapid pre‑cooling after harvest to remove field heat and reduce fruit respiration

Airflow system and organized racking to prevent localized hot or cold spots

Documentation, standards, and market regulations

Compliance with the destination country’s sanitary and phytosanitary standards (maximum residue limits for pesticides) and provision of the relevant certificates

Lot tracking code to trace origin and harvest date

Packaging and labeling in accordance with import regulations (language, nutritional information if required, country of origin)

Customs documents, phytosanitary certificate, and, if required, organic/FSMS certification

Logistics and transportation

Maintaining the cold chain from farm to destination; even the shortest break in the cold chain reduces shelf life

Fast transportation and selection of an appropriate route/method (air freight for time‑sensitive markets; sea freight with controlled‑atmosphere containers for high volumes)

Avoid tight stacking that causes bruising; use standard arrangement and protective layers between tiers

Scheduling loading during cooler hours of the day and arranging pallets to maintain ventilation and accessibility

final quality control before loading

Random sampling of packages for testing firmness, appearance, and pesticide residues (if required)

Removal of fruits with mechanical damage or signs of decay

Recording cold storage conditions (temperature/humidity) and barcode/lot number for each pallet

To coordinate documentation and logistics planning, contacting an experienced company like Sarvban can facilitate the process of obtaining permits and sending the shipment to Oman

Final Selection and Recommendation

If your goal is the local market and high adaptability, the mentioned Iranian cultivars (Zanuz, Marand, Shafiabadi, Golab, Ghandak, Golshahi) are suitable options and require simpler management

For value-added fresh markets or export, Fuji, Gala, and Golden Delicious are more suitable, but they require cooling infrastructure and robust pest/disease management

Practical suggestion: On a small scale (1–2 hectares), combine plantings (e.g., 60% local cultivar + 40% commercial cultivar like Fuji or Gala) to preserve local adaptability while diversifying markets and seasonal revenue